第五集《沃土中原》
该集以长城和黄河流域的中原为中心,镜头扫过这片曾经孕育过中华古文明的大地。在秦岭森林里依然如施过魔法般孕育着神奇的生物:大熊猫、金丝猴、羚牛,还有全世界绝无仅有的上百只被誉为“吉祥鸟”的美丽朱鹮。跟随镜头,来到中国首都及历朝古都北京,看清晨遛鸟打拳的老人和致力于救助猛禽的青年。千百年象征着民族精神的少林寺,也在鹤、猴、蛇等动物身上寻找着师法天然的武术奥秘。

Episode 5. Land of the Panda
The fifth instalment features central China, home to the Han Chinese. They are the largest ethnic group on Earth, and their language Mandarin the most widely spoken. The programme looks at how the relationship between people and wildlife has changed over time. Ancient Chinese beliefs placed great importance in the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. At the beginning of China’s period of rapid economic growth, this ideal was largely forgotten. A number of political references contrast the more enlightened environmental policies of the current government with those under Chairman Mao Zedong, which led to widespread degradation. The Chinese alligator and crested ibis are two species saved from extinction by direct intervention. Other animals have benefited from ancient spiritual beliefs and customs which live on, promoting respect and reverence for wildlife: the yellow weasels and Mandarin ducks of Beijing are two such creatures. However, wildlife is still threatened by illegal poaching for food and traditional medicine. West of Beijing lie the fertile lands of the North China Plain and the Loess plateau, source of the Yellow River. Increased demand for water has changed the river’s flow, and soil erosion causes dust storms which reach the capital. Further west, the Qinling Mountains are a refuge for some of China’s rarest species including the takin, golden snub-nosed monkey and giant panda. Giant panda courtship and mating is shown, filmed for the first time in the wild. In the colourful lakes of Jiuzhaigou, unique fish swim amongst forests preserved underwater.